Women's Liberation Movement march, 1971 – in pictures

On Saturday 6 March 1971, women from across the UK gathered in central London to join the first national demonstration by the newly formed Women’s Liberation Movement. Observer photographers Jane Bown and Tony McGrath documented the event for the following day’s paper.

The Observer’s John Heilpern (JH) reported: ‘About 2,500 women, many with husbands and boyfriends marched from Speaker’s Corner to Trafalgar Square in a cruel blizzard which might have deterred lesser women’

JH: ‘The demonstration was about four basic issues; equal pay; equal education and job opportunities; free 24-hour nurseries; free contraception and abortion on demand. The last got the biggest cheers when it was read out in Trafalgar Square’

JT: ‘One two three four we want a bloody damn sight more. Biology isn’t destiny. Equal pay now. Bed or wed, are you free to choose? I’m not just a delectable screwing machine. Capitalism breeds sexploitation. Freedom’